This document provides an overview of waste prevention programs in the EU. It defines waste prevention and outlines the EEA's activities in reviewing member countries' waste prevention programs. As of February 2014, 20 countries had published waste prevention programs, which differ in whether they are separate programs or part of wider waste management plans. The programs address various sectors and waste types, with some having quantitative targets and others qualitative targets or status quo goals. Instruments used range from informative to promotional to administrative to economic. Stakeholder involvement also varies. Little information is given on costs or cost savings of the programs. Overall, the programs differ substantially and experience implementing them is still limited.

1. Waste Prevention Programmes in the EU Overview
Birgitte J. Kjær, EEA - ETC/SCP
Stakeholder meeting, Athens, 10 February 2014

2. Waste prevention definition
“Measures taken before a substance,
material or product has become
waste that reduce:
• the quantity of waste, including through
the reuse of products or the extension
of life span of products:
• the adverse impacts of the generated
waste on the environment and human
health; or
• the content of harmful substances in
materials and products”
(Article 3 Paragraph 12)
2

4. Background for the EEA
activities in Waste Prevention
1. “The EEA is invited to […] review the
progress in the completion and
implementation of waste prevention
programmes”
(WFD article 30 (2))
2.
Member countries are very interested in the
exchange of information and experiences
on waste prevention.

5. EEA activities on WP
1. English abstracts of national waste prevention programmes, 10 abstracts uploaded
http://scp.eionet.europa.eu/facts/WPP
2. Information hub on waste prevention. More
than 100 reports
http://scp.eionet.europa.eu/themes/waste_pr
evention
3. Review the programmes published by 31
December 2013 in the spring 2014

6. Status WPP - February 2014
• 20 WPP published:
Austria, Belgium (Brx),
England, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal,
Scotland, Slovakia,
Spain, Sweden, Wales

7. Type of programme
20 WPP
Separate WPP
WPP part of WMP

8. Sectors
AT
Agriculture
Mining, raw material
Construction and infrastructu
Manufacturing
Sale, retail, transport
Households
Private services
Public Services
BE
BR
FI
GE
IE
LU
LV
NO
PL
PT

9. Waste types
AT
Food/organic
C&D waste
Hazardous waste
Household/municipal waste
Paper
Packaging waste
WEEE/batteries
Manufacturing waste
Bulky waste
Other (textiles)
BE
BR
FI
GE
IE
LU
LV
NO
PL
PT

10. Quantitative targets
• A number of WPP’s with no quantitative targets
• Absolute reduction targets for total waste or
specific streams (Spain, Scotland, Wales)
• Reduction targets per GDP (Italy)
• Status quo targets (Sweden)
• Maximum amounts (Latvia)

11. Type of instruments
• Mainly informative
• Some promotional
• Fewer
administrative
• Few economic
instruments

12. Stakeholder involvement
• The involvement of stakeholder differs in
development and implementation
• Success of implementation depends on
stakeholders

13. Cost and Cost savings
• Very little information
• Brussels has a budget in the programme,
England announce the investments
• Ireland reports on cost savings in their
annual report

14. Lessons learned
• The programmes differ substantially with
regard to content, comprehensiveness and
specificity.
• The experience on implementation limited.
• A lot of strong will – is that enough?

15. Thank you
More information
• Birgitte Kjær
• European Topic Centre
on Sustainable Consumption and Production
• bjk@etc.mim.dk
• http://scp.eionet.europa.e
u/
Questions and feedback